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Temples of Kashi - The Kardameshwar temple

The absence of ancient Hindu structures in Kashi is something I have always lamented about. The shrines are certainly ancient, and that is something that has always attracted me to the city. However, I miss the beauty of the ancient structures that we see at other sites. This feeling is intensified when I see marble and concrete and tiles in temples that once would have been beautifully adorned with evocative sculptures, and worn by the passage of time, touched by the hands of seekers who came before. This time , this desire to see some remnants of an ancient Hindu structure in Kashi came true when I managed to visit the Kardameshwar Temple. The Kardameshwar temple is not one of the main temples in the city. It is part of the temples on the Pancha Kroshi yatra, a pilgrimage which takes one on a circumambulatory tour of the whole city. The temple is located on the outskirts of the city, on the western bank of a tank called the Kardama Kund. The Kardameshwar temple is one of the...
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Memories of 2013 - Rediscovering Mumbai

I have lived in Mumbai for almost 30 years, and, having wandered around freely and happily, thought I knew the city well. It is only this year that I realised how little I knew about it, especially its hidden secrets. One of the first revelations was a visit to Sewri with the Travel-Logs, who opened my eyes to the incredible history which remains unknown to most of its inhabitants.

The Parel Shiva Heptad



Nothing exemplifies this more than the Parel Shiva Heptad, this monolithic statue of Shiva with seven faces, dating back to the 5th or 6th Century AD. Equally interesting was the Sewri Cemetery, which I hadn't even heard of before. 

Samhith at the BEST Museum


And then, stuck once more at home during the Diwali vacation, we set out on a Museum trail - starting off with the BEST Museum at Anik Depot, then the RBI Monetary Museum, and finally, the CST Heritage Gallery. If the BEST Museum was a big surprise, the Monetary Museum was informative, and the CST Heritage Gallery was sheer delight! We literally had our jaws dropping as we walked along the corridors of the Central Railways Headquarters, seeing the amazing works of art on the walls and pillars! Yes, I have yet to write about it, and I promise, I shall do it soon! 

At the Central Railway Headquarters, CST


Meanwhile, I enjoyed some more Museum time, visiting the Bhau Daji Lad Museum with Sudha Ganapathy, and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Museum, first with Samhith, and then by myself, to see the well curated exhibitions. First, there was the Egyptian Mummy, which was a fascinating one, and then, the Flemish Masterpieces which have come all the way from Antwerp! With more interesting exhibitions coming up at the Museum, the New Year is surely going to see me making more trips to the Museum!! 

The beautifully renovated interiors of the  Dr.Bhau Daji Lad Museum


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Location: Sewri, Comed Rambhau Dev Ji Patil Road, Gandhi Nagar, Sewri, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400015, India

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